Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-11-25
A STRANGE DELIVERANCE.

latter scenes Of dramma in real LIE.
In which | played, involuntarilv, n
leading part, which has always been
ihterestng IN its telling and may be
equally so when written and read.
1t was about month after the close
oil our civil war. when | was stationed
in II town on the Miss ssippi in Lousi-
ana bus ~ engaged in connection with
my duties a provost marshal OF d VS.
ION and district, in parollng the many
cN'confederatcs who were constantly
coming in, most of them sick and worn.
AL hungry and dirty.
Cd Colonel c., good rebel" and
Tine gentleman. cons dercd himself un-
der obligations 10 me for sending to
ms home, in an ambulance. his younc.
brave, gray coated and very sick sol
der SON, and he continually invited me
to accept his hearty. old-fashioned
Southern hospitality at the home plan
tatons about eight IN les from our post
lie had three young daughters, good
rebels ALL but pretty. bright, sens bic
lad es' whose political opinions never
tainted their courtesy [ was glad to
seek such pleasant company and often
did so.
| received notice one day from the
colonel, that the next Sunday would be
little Georgia's birthday, that my pres
ence would add to the joyousness of the
occas on, and that there would be am.
pie home products for egg-nog. VIII eli
latter inlimalion well unders' God to
mean that would be greatly thanked
II brought the spurious ingredients
for 'he connection.
Early on the day ment oned moun.
ted with two canteens. one Of whisky
and one Of jana ca rum. fastened on
my saddle bow. and with no weapons.
Necessity required that should be in
Uniform passing through our troops
and lncs, and - the day was very,
Yer, warm, l only wore flannel under
shrt beneath my closely bultoned
d'ut in-hrea>ted coat. and strapped be-
bind nae a clean white garment and
two collars polished in the best style of
tie laundry art knew would have /
+" 'lroW OF my tight fitting "harncss"
on my arrival TO put on the light. gray /
jacket the colonel always insisted su ted .
me better than the blu and and brass, /
nud wanted to look nice"
The road was long, hot and terribly
dusty About 800 yards from my desti-
nat on | stopped. picketed my horse in
,iJe the fence, retired to thick grove
Of high underbrush | well knew, and
through which ran a little stream of
clear water. | disrobed and bathed.
hen. fresh, cool and clean proceeded
10 prepare for inspection and review"
was struggling W tn the over starched
billed shirt" head and arms hidden.
when through the mufll ng heard the
tracking of twigs. As | thrust my
lead, with hair all tumhled. through
he BOSOM opening of the garment. /
ooked directly into the muzzels of (
hree rovolvers and one shot gun. all
eld within five feet of and on level
With my head in Il manner not calculat-
d to increase Il mans appetite for the
Behind each weapon was villainous {
outlaw. specimens Of that class who
we're rebels and murdercrs with Union
nen and murders and Yankees with the 6
'onfedcratcs men who met with no q
mercy or sympathy from the true sol i
iers of either side. Worse still. | rec q
gnized from descriptions often given t
ne, that one Of the party was Mat c
.ingsley, whose house. near the post.
ad been forced to take as q SMALLPOX c
ospital, and who, heard vowed ven d
eance upon me for the act. il
There was nothing to do but throw t
p my hands. and did it, There
las no use in arguing or pleading with 9
lch gang, so | put bold front on v
ne matter and tried to COMPROMISE. I
/ had couple of hundred dollars in b
reenbacks in my pocket and these W tn l.
~ horse | offered if they would free n
le. Ihey laughed the proposition to
corn. They had me and all these be- p
'nging to me and intended to part s
nth nothing They had not expected 81
'ch luck As finding me. being on b
leir way to some other cowardly, Il
leiying expedition, and securing me d
as pr re unexpected. e
Quickly rs possible was stripped of v
every piece of clothing and made to c,
'place it with the ragged. vermin-in. |
ctcd rags of my captors. was
armed that if | made the least cutlery |
Y brains would spatter the brush i'm &C
ediatelv, and | knew tho threat was Il
earnest
Bill Kingsley. the one recognized, 81
aimed me as his "meat." He told /
lie others to GO on their projected ra d o
lille he took me to the rendezvous aud In